Blueberry plant named &#39;RIDLEY 1607&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘Ridley 1607’ is provided. ‘Ridley 1607’ is a commercial variety intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, hand pick, customer pick, machine harvest and processing markets and as a home garden plant. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘Ridley 1403’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432) and ‘Ridley 4609’ (U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 14/999,949), which can be distinguished by its outstanding features.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/605,029 filed on Jul. 28, 2017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth herein.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES

Genus —Vaccinium.

Species—hybrid.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The new blueberry plant claimed is of the variety denominated ‘RIDLEY 1607’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial variety of Vaccinium hybrid (Southern Highbush Blueberry), which has been given the variety denomination of ‘Ridley 1607’. Its market class is that of a fruiting plant. ‘Ridley 1607’ is intended for use as fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing markets and as a home garden plant.

The new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a breeding program of Vaccinium at Lindendale, NSW, Australia in 2011 from the controlled pollination of seed parent ‘Ridley 1403’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432) with pollen parent ‘Ridley 4609’ (U.S. Plant application Ser. No. 14/999,949). The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within a population of 100 resulting Vaccinium hybrid plants from this controlled pollination in 2014 in a commercial field plantation environment at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia. Selection criteria were a combination of strong plant growth vigor, upright to semi-upright plant growth habit, low chilling requirement, late to very late time of flowering and fruit ripening, medium to large, sweet, firm, crisp fruit suited to handling, desirable tasting berries and small picking scar.

The selection was subsequently evaluated for a number of years at the commercial farms at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia and Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since 2014 at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a breeding program of Vaccinium at Lindendale, NSW, Australia in 2011 from the controlled pollination of seed parent ‘Ridley 1403’ with pollen parent ‘Ridley 4609’. The seed parent was produced from a seedling selection of ‘S02-25-05’ (not patented) and pollen parent ‘S03-08-02’ (not patented). The pollen parent was produced from a seedling selection of ‘C95-152’ (not patented) and pollen parent ‘C00-09’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,778).

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the seed parent ‘Ridley 1403’ primarily in ripening two weeks later than ‘Ridley 1403’ and is easier to shake and harvest than ‘Ridley 1403’. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the pollen parent ‘Ridley 4609’ primarily in being more upright in growth habit than ‘Ridley 4609’ and has firmer, sweeter fruit that is easier to shake and harvest than ‘Ridley 4609’.

The new blueberry variety was designated M14-16-07, and has been planted in replicated trials since 2014.

The new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a controlled breeding program of Vaccinium at Lindendale, NSW, in 2014 from the controlled pollination of seed parent ‘Ridley 1403’ with pollen parent ‘Ridley 4609’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by softwood cutting propagation since 2014 at Lindendale, New South Wales has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

The new Vaccinium hybrid cultivar is a selection resulting from seedlings produced in a breeding programme of Vaccinium at Lindendale, NSW, Australia in 2011 from the controlled pollination of seed parent ‘Ridley 1403’ with pollen parent ‘Ridley 4609’. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single plant within a population of 100 resulting Vaccinium hybrid plants from this controlled pollination in 2014 in a commercial field plantation environment at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia. Selection criteria were a combination of strong plant growth vigor, upright to semi-upright plant growth habit, low chilling requirement, late to very late time of flowering and fruit ripening, medium to large, sweet, firm, crisp fruit suited to handling, desirable tasting berries and small picking scar.

The selection was subsequently evaluated for a number of years at the commercial farms at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia and farms at Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia.

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish M14-16-07 (Ridley 1607) as a new and distinct cultivar of Vaccinium hybrid plant :

-   -   1. Upright to semi-upright bushy plant growth habit.     -   2. Strong plant growth vigor.     -   3. Large leaf size.     -   4. Late to very late timing of flowering beginning.     -   5. Late to very late timing of fruit ripening.     -   6. Very firm and crisp berry.     -   7. Dry picking scar.     -   8. Medium to large berry size.     -   9. Berry sweetness is high to very high.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the seed parent ‘Ridley 1403’ primarily in ripening two weeks later than ‘Ridley 1403’ and is easier to shake and harvest than ‘Ridley 1403’. Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the pollen parent ‘Ridley 4609’ primarily in being more upright in growth habit than ‘Ridley 4609’ and has firmer, sweeter fruit that is easier to shake and harvest than ‘Ridley 4609’.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by cutting propagation since 2014 at Lindendale, New South Wales, Australia has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens in full color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘Ridley 1607’ The colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘Ridley 1607’, demonstrating the plant's upright growth habit.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the fruit of the new variety ‘Ridley 1607’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘Ridley 1607’.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the leaves of the new variety ‘Ridley 1607’.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the leaves, flowers, fruit, new shoot and fruit cluster of the new variety ‘Ridley 1607’.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of fruit of the variety ‘Ridley 1607’.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of fruit cross section of the variety ‘Ridley 1607’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the photographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘Ridley 1607’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of the original selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristics are approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. The plant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years of age, and the descriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grown in Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia. Color designations are from Tabulam, New South Wales, Australia.

Except where noted, color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 edition.

-   Classification:     -   -   a. Family.—Ericaceae.         -   b. Genus.—Vaccinium.         -   c. Species.—hybrid.         -   d. Common name.—Southern Highbush Blueberry. -   Parentage: Female Parent—‘Ridley 1403’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,432);     Male Parent—‘Ridley 4609’ (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No.     14/999,949). -   Market class: A fruiting plant intended for use as fresh fruit for     shipping, hand pick, customer pick, machine harvest and processing     markets and as a home garden plant.

PLANT

-   General:     -   -   Parentage.—Female Parent — ‘Ridley 1403’ (U.S. Plant Pat.             No. 25,432); Male Parent — ‘Ridley 4609’ (U.S. Plant patent             application Ser. No. 14/999,949).         -   Plant height.—1.7 m.         -   Plant width.—1.5 m.         -   Growth habit.—Upright to semi-upright.         -   Growth.—Strong to very strong vigor.         -   Productivity.—6 to 7 kg per season from 3-4 year old plants             planted at 3.0 m×0.9 m density.         -   Cold hardiness.—Has not been grown in all environments             including harsh winter environments.         -   Cold tolerance.—Cold tolerance is expected to be low.         -   Chilling requirement.—Has not been grown in all environments             and is typically grown as an evergreen crop where chilling             hours are not important. ‘Ridley 1607’ is classed as “low             chill,” typical of Southern Highbush Blueberry varieties             with an estimated chilling requirement of 250 hours (not             tested).         -   Tolerance to disease.—Moderate resistance to root disease             (phytophthora spp) and good resistance to blueberry rust.         -   Leafing.—Vegetative bud burst is early when grown as an             evergreen in Australia.         -   Twigginess.—Low.

STEM

-   General:     -   -   Suckering tendency.—Plants typically have 5-7 major canes             per plant from a base 30 cm in diameter on 6 year old             plants.         -   Mature cane color.—Greyed orange 198C.         -   Mature cane length.—0.8-1.0 m.         -   Mature cane width.—1.2 cm.         -   Bark texture.—Medium roughness (typical of species).         -   Fall color on new shoots.—Top side (7419C/7420C) Under side             (7488CP) (Pantone color bridge plus).         -   Surface texture of new wood.—Smooth.         -   Internode length on strong, new shoots.—20-30 mm.         -   Fruiting wood.—To 15 cm in length.

FOLIAGE

-   General:     -   -   Time of beginning of leaf bud burst.—Early.         -   Leaf color (Top side).—Yellow green 147A.         -   Leaf color (Under side).—Yellow green 147C.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.         -   Leaf margins.—Entire.         -   Undulation of margin.—Weak.         -   Leaf venation.—Reticulate.         -   Leaf apices.—Acuminate.         -   Leaf bases.—Obtuse.         -   Leaf Length.—63-69 mm.         -   Leaf Width.—31-38 mm.         -   Leaf length/width ratio.—Medium.         -   Leaf nectaries.—Absent.         -   Pubescence of upper side.—Absent.         -   Pubescence of lower side.—Absent.         -   Cross sectional profile.—Flat.         -   Longitudinal profile.—Straight.         -   Attitude.—Semi-upright to horizontal. -   Petioles:     -   -   Length.—1.0 to 3.0 mm.         -   Width.—2.0 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow green 146C-147C.

FLOWERS

-   General:     -   -   Time of beginning of flowering.—Late to very late (early             October to-early November at Tabulam, NSW Australia).         -   Time of 50% anthesis.—Late October at Tabulam, NSW             Australia.         -   Flower shape.—Urceolate.         -   Flower bud density.—Medium density.         -   Flower fragrance.—Weak. -   Corolla:     -   -   Color.—White NN155D.         -   Length.—9-12 mm.         -   Width.—7-9 mm.         -   Aperture width.—3-5 mm.         -   Anthocyanin coloration of corolla.—Absent, occasional in bud             stage.         -   Corolla ridges.—Present.         -   Protrusion of stigma.—Present. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Length.—40 to 70 mm.         -   Diameter.—20-40 mm.         -   Length of peduncle.—15 mm.         -   Surface texture of peduncle.—Smooth.         -   Color of peduncle.—Yellow green 146C.         -   Length of pedicel.—7-10 mm.         -   Surface texture of pedicel.—Smooth.         -   Color of pedicel.—Yellow green 147C.         -   Number of flowers per cluster.—9-12.         -   Flower cluster density.—Medium. -   Calyx (with sepals):     -   -   Diameter.—9-11 mm.         -   Color (sepals).—Green 138C to yellow green 147C. -   Stamen:     -   -   Length.—4-5 mm.         -   Number per flower.—Approximately 10.         -   Filament color.—Yellow green 144D. -   Pistil:     -   -   Length.—10-13 mm.         -   Style.—Length — 5-6 mm.         -   Ovary color (exterior).—Yellow green 144D-147C. -   Anther:     -   -   Length.—3.0-3.5 mm.         -   Number.—Approximately 10.         -   Color.—Greyed orange 167C-D. -   Pollen:     -   -   Abundance.—Medium.         -   Color.—Greyed orange 167C-D.         -   Self-compatibility.—60% fruit set with own pollen in tests             at Lindendale, NSW Australia.

FRUIT

-   General:     -   -   Time of fruit ripening.—Late to very late (late October             to-mid December at Tabulam, NSW Australia).         -   Time of 50% maturity.—Mid November.         -   Fruit development period.—65 days.         -   Cluster density.—Medium, 7-10 berries per cluster.         -   Unripe fruit color.—Green 138A.         -   Ripe berry color.—Black 202A.         -   Berry surface wax abundance.—Strong.         -   Berry flesh color.—Greyed green 194C, lightening to 194D,             then 193D.         -   Berry weight.—3.0-3.6 g.         -   Berry height from calyx to scar.—14-18 mm.         -   Berry diameter.—20 mm.         -   Berry shape.—Oblate.         -   Fruit stem scar.—Small (dry).         -   Sweetness when ripe.—High to very high.         -   Firmness when ripe.—Very firm.         -   Acidity when ripe.—Medium.         -   Storage quality.—Good, lasted 10 weeks at 2 degrees Celcius             in tests. Not tested with modified atmosphere storage yet.         -   Suitability for mechanical harvesting.—Very firm fruit             firmness, strong blush and fruit shape suited to mechanical             harvesting. Shake requirement and season compactness not yet             tested.         -   Self-fruitfulness.—60% fruit set with own pollen in tests at             Lindendale, NSW Australia.         -   Use.—Fresh fruit for shipping, customer pick and processing             markets and as a home garden plant.

SEED

-   General:     -   -   Seed abundance in fruit.—Abundant.         -   Seed color.—Greyed orange 164A.         -   Seed dry weight.—Not recorded.         -   Seed length.—1.5-2.0 mm.

COMPARISON BETWEEN COMMERCIAL CULTIVARS

TABLE 1 ‘Ridley 1602’ (not ‘Ridley 1105’ (not Organ Context ‘Ridley 1607’ patented) patented) Plant Vigour strong to very strong strong to very strong strong Plant growth habit upright to semi-upright upright to semi-upright upright One-year-old shoot Color green green green One-year-old shoot length of internode medium medium medium Leaf Length long long long to very long Leaf Width broad broad very broad Leaf Shape elliptic elliptic elliptic Leaf color of upper side green green green intensity of green color on upper side (varieties with green leaf color only) Leaf medium medium medium Leaf margin entire entire entire Flower bud anthocyanin coloration weak weak weak Flower shape of corolla urceolate urceolate urceolate Flower size of corolla tube medium medium medium Flower anthocyanin coloration absent or very weak absent or very weak absent or very weak of corolla tube Flower ridges on corolla tube present present present Fruit cluster density medium medium medium Unripe fruit intensity of green color light light light Fruit size medium to large large to very large large to very large Fruit shape in longitudinal oblate oblate oblate section Fruit attitude of sepals erect erect erect Fruit diameter of calyx basin large to very large large to very large medium to large Fruit depth of calyx basin deep deep medium Fruit intensity of bloom strong strong strong Fruit color of skin dark blue dark blue dark blue Fruit firmness very firm very firm firm to very firm Fruit sweetness high to very high high to very high high Fruit acidity medium medium to high medium to high Time of vegetative bud burst early very early very early Time of beginning of flowering late to very late very early to early very early Time of beginning of fruit late to very late very early to early very early ripening 

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘Ridley 1607’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 